The International Association of Fire Chiefs Foundation (IAFC Foundation) is accepting applications for its educational scholarships from qualified first responders.The deadline is June 1, 2014.Scholarships provided by the IAFC Foundation help improve the fire service by assisting first responders advance their college level educations so they are better prepared to face the ever-increasing and complex challenges of today’s fire service.

Available 2014 scholarships include:

Motorola Future Leaders Scholarship Awards

Chief Charles “Chet” Henry Memorial Scholarship Award

Garry L. Briese Scholarship Award

The Heather Westphal Memorial Scholarship Award

IAFC Federal Military Section Award

John M. Buckman, III Award

Company Officer Leadership Symposium (COLS) Scholarship

Fire Explorers (14-20 years of age)

Any person who is an active member with a minimum of three (3) years as a volunteer, two (2) years paid, or a combination of paid and volunteer of three (3) years with a state, county, provincial, municipal, community, industrial, or federal fire department is eligible to apply.The scholarship application form can be found here.For additional information please email Sharon Baroncelli or call 703.896.4822.

The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI), the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), are currently working with members of Congress and the Administration to address the potential impact that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) could have on volunteer fire departments throughout the nation. According to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) (P.L. 111-148), employers with more than 50 full-time employees (or their equivalents (FTE)) must provide health insurance to employees that work more than 30 hours per week. Unfortunately, the Internal Revenue Service has ruled that volunteer firefighters that receive nominal benefits from their fire departments (including stipends, end-of-the-year banquets and awards) count as "employees" of fire departments. An unintended consequence of this IRS ruling is that fire departments may have to provide health insurance to volunteers that serve more than 30 hours per week at their local fire department. The effect of this provision could cause serious financial hardship to fire departments. Many volunteer fire departments rely upon local donations and fundraisers to fund their basic operations. The addition of a requirement to provide health insurance would present a serious financial challenge to them. Although the final regulations have not been codified, the aforementioned organizations are working with a bipartisan group of members of Congress to address this potential consequence of the PPACA. The NVFC, IAFC, and several members of Congress have sent letters to the IRS asking Acting-Commissioner Werfel to release regulations or guidance stating volunteers who receive nominal compensation will not be considered employees under PPACA. On December 10, 2013, Senator Mark Warner (VA) and Congressman Lou Barletta (PA-11) introduced the Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act (H.R. 3685 and S. 1798). The legislation ensures that volunteers are not counted as full-time employees under the shared responsibility requirements contained in PPACA. CFSI, NVFC and IAFC will continue to provide updates to the fire service as these efforts are being addressed on Capitol Hill and within the Administration. Please visit our website sites (www.cfsi.org, www.nvfc.org, www.iafc.org) for the latest information.

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